Container latch and lock



Jan. 5, 1954 C, A VAHLSTROM ET AL 2,664,735

CONTAINER I .ATCH AND LOCK Filed Oct. 5l, 1951 v INVENTOR. @f7/a A7. l/H//Lsr/Po/v/ PHIL/p J. WALTHE Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER LATCH AND LOCK Application .October 31, 1951, SerialNo. v2,521,166

(Cl. ,7o-+71) 8 Claims.

mechanism maybe assembled as a separable unit l which can be inserted into a casing .as the casing is .mounted toits container.

A further object of this invention is the provision .of a latch .which is extremely simple in construction, Contains .a minimum of parts and is `highly eiiicient in its operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and the accompanying `drawings in which.:

Fig. 1 is a front View of our invention showing the same attached to a box.

Fig. 2 is aside view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the easing of said latch.

Fig. 4 is an .enlarged front view of the latch .showing the casing thereof .in section.

Fig. k5 is a side view of the bolt unit with the casing shown in .central vertical section.

Fig. 6 is a rear View `of V,said unit and casing.

Fig. 7 is -a iront view of the bolt unit showing the .same in unlocked condition.

Fig. 8` is a .side view thereof in central vertical section.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the lock plate used Yin the said unit.

1n the embodiment of our invention, as illustrated in the drawings, our improved latch includes a casing 5 which is adapted'to contain -a unit that includes a resilient bolt-memberG-comprising a U-shaped spring Vhaving a latehing finger 1 which extends from the casing-5 into a keeper Ain the form of a shell 8, through' a notch 8-a. lin the wall thereof, and engages the inner side of said Wall.

In the form shown, the casing 5 may be secured directly to a member, such as the box indicated at 9, by means of prongs I0 thereon which are inserted into openings inthe said box and folded against the back of the boit wall. The keeper 8 is also provided with similar prongs II by means of which it is likewise secured to the cover of the boxes indicated at I2.

The saidjkeeper is-preferably vprovided with guide iingers vI3 which extend through recesses or notches I 4 in lthe casing -5 fior retaining-thekeeper in alignment therewith.

2 `The bolt member At and its locking mechanism are combined Ainto a separable unit which maybe readily inserted `into operative position withinlthe casing 5 as the said casing 'is attached tothe wall of :the 4box 9. 'This unit includes alocking plate I5 :having an eyelet I5 projecting therefrom and extending through an opening Il in the rear -leg i8 ofthe vU -shaped bolt member 6 so -as to rotatably mount the said plate between the said rear leg and the front leg If9 of the bolt member.

A i-lat retaining spring' -is secured against the rear surface of the -leg IB by `means of a flange which is formed on vthe eyelet `I6 andthe said spring `has ears 2 I, which engage the sidesof 'the leg I8 to prevent rotation of fthe spring, and resilient fingers 22 at opposite sides thereof which engage recesses 23 in the rear surface of lthe -locking plate I5 to position said plate in either locked orunlocked position relatively to the bolt.

The said locking plate is also provided `with a projection 24 which extends rearwardly therefrom and engages the sides of the leg i8, or the ears ZI, to provide a stop for limiting the rotation of the plate between the said locked and unlocked positions. yThe said plate is also provided with perpendicular ears 2-5 at opposite sides thereof which operate to prevent unlocking movement of the 'bolt 6, when the plate I5 is in locked position, and a perpendicular stud 26 isprovided, adjacent L0 the opening iii-c` in the eyelet portion, vto 'be engaged byakey for rotating the said plate.

T he bolt 6 is provided with shoulders vli-wwhich engage ,the wal'l of the shell 5 adjacent to the opening therein to retain the locking unit within said Ashelland .to resist the pull which is applied to the bolt Whenan attempt is made to move the keeper while theiboiltis 'in locked lposition.

The said bclthasaforwardly proj eotngcurved portion l which extends y into an opening 28 in the front wall `olf the casing 5 4and thesaid opening has side nangcs 2.9 which are disposed at Qpbosite ,sides of lthe bolt to locate .the `locking unit within the `casing 5 Yand permit movement of the bolt ,between said flanges 29.

The bolt also has a central 4key opening 30 which extends through the curved portion 42l thereof and is aligned with the opening lB-a so as 4to rotatably receive akeyiil therein (shown'in dotted lines). which engages the 4stud 26 and thereby rotates the 'locking plate I5.

The operation of our improved latch is as folindicated at 3| is inserted through vthe-opening` 38 and into the opening I-a so that the operat ing nger of the key will engage the stud y2t 'to 3 rotate the plate l5. When the said plate is rotated into locking position, the ears 25-25 will be disposed in back of the bolt 6 so that it cannot be forced inwardly to cause the finger i to be disengaged from the keeper 8.

When it is desired to unlock the latch, the plate I5 is rotated with the key to the position indicated in Fig. 8, wherein the locking fingers -25 are disposed at opposite sides of the bolt 6 and rearward movement of the bolt 6 is permitted between the said fingers when it is forced inwardly to its unlocking position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

It will be noted that the bolt 6, the locking plate l5 and the retaining spring 2i) are joined together, by means of the eyelet I6, to form a self-contained unit which is readily insertable into the shell 5 as the said shell is secured to the container 9. This greatly facilitates the assembling of the latch and materially reduces the cost thereof since no previous assembling of the bolt to the casing is required. Also, when in its operative position within the shell 5, the said unit rests against the wall or" the container 9 and thereby eliminates the necessity for a back plate on the shell 5 such as heretofore commonly used in devices of this class.

As shown in Fig. 5, the eyelet i6 preferably projectsV beyond the rear surface of the retaining spring 26 into a hole in the wall of the container 5 and helps to position the unit. However, if desired, the hole in the wall of the container may be eliminated by making the end of the eyelet flush with the surface of the spring and reducing the length of the key end so that it will not project beyond the eyelet.

We claim:

i. A latch lock comprising a casing and a selfcontained locking unit within said casing; the

said unit including a U-shaped spring member having one leg thereof forming a movable bolt having a latching finger, the other leg of said member having a locking plate rotatable thereon with locking fingers movable, by rotation of said locking plate to a selected position, into register with the said bolt to prevent movement thereof, and a spring member secured to said other leg and engageable with the said locking plate to resist rotation thereof.

2. A latch lock comprising a casing and a locking unit contained within said casing; the said locking unit including a U-shaped spring member having one leg thereof forming a movable bolt that extends outwardly from the casing, the other leg of said member being adapted to be supported in stationary position by and on the surface of the member to which the casing is to be secured, a locking plate rotatable on said other leg, a locking ringer projecting from said plate in the direction of the bolt and, upon rotation of said locking plate to a selected position, being engageable `with the bolt to prevent unlocking movement thereof, key engageable means on said plate permitting rotation of the plate by a key, and a retaining spring bearing on the locking plate to resist rotation thereof.

3. A latch lock mechanism comprising a casing and a self-contained locking unit separably mounted within said casing; the said unit comprising a U-shaped spring member having a movable leg and a stationary leg, the said movable leg forming a bolt having a portion. extending` outwardly through an opening in said casing, a locking plate disposed between thesaid stationary and movable legs and rotatably secured to the stationary leg, a retaining spring also secured to the stationary leg and engaging said plate to resist rotation thereof, a locking finger projecting from said plate and movable, by rotation of said locking plate to a selected position, into position to engage the rear of the bolt and prevent unlocking movement thereof, the said bolt having an operating portion accessible through an opening in the front of said casing and the said portion having a key opening permitting the insertion of a key therethrough for operating the locking plate, and a projection on said plate engageable with said key for rotating the plate to locked and unlocked positions.

4. A latch lock mechanism comprising a casing and a locking unit contained within said casin g; the said locking unit comprising a U-shaped member having a movable and a stationary leg, the saidV movable leg forming a bolt, an extension on said bolt projecting outwardly through an opening in the casing, a locking finger on said extension, abutment shoulders onv said bolt engageable with the casing to secure the bolt against longitudinal movement relatively to the casing, key operated locking means between the said stationary and movable legs which, when in a selected position, prevents unlocking movement of the bolt, and a curved portion on said bolt extending forwardly into an opening in the front of said casing and accessible through said opening to permit manual operation of the bolt, the said curved portion having a key opening therein to permit the insertion of a key through said bolt for the operation of said locking means.

5. A latch lock comprising a casing and a selfcontained locking unit within said casing; the said locking unit comprising a U-shaped spring member having a stationary leg adapted to be posi.- tioned upon the wall of a container and a movable leg normally urged in the direction of the front wall of the casing, said movable leg forming a bolt having a curved portion extending into an opening in the said wall of the casing to permit manual operation of the bolt, an extension on said bolt projecting outwardly through an opening in the wall of the casing, a locking finger on said extension, a locking plate rotatably secured to the stationary leg of said U-shaped spring member and disposed between said stationary leg and the movable leg, a spring secured to said stationary leg and engageable with spaced recesses on said plate for positioning the plate and resisting rotation thereof, a projection on said plate engageable with the bolt when the plate is in locking position to prevent movement of the bolt to unlocking position, a separate projection on said plate; the said bolt and plate having key receiving openings accessible through the opening in the front ofthe casing to receive'a key that is adapted to engage said separate projection for rotating the plate into locked and unlocked positions. f

6. A latch lock comprising a casing having an opening in the front wall thereof with flanges extending inwardly from the sides of said opening, a U-shaped spring member contained within said casing and having a stationary leg and a movable leg, the said movable leg forming a bolt movably positioned by and between the said flanges and accessible through said opening for the operation thereof, an extension on said bolt projecting through an end wall of the casing, a hook portion'onA said extension, a key opera-ted locking mechanism including a plate rotatably mounted on said stationary leg, fingers onl said plate engageable, when in a selected position, with the bolt to prevent unlocking movement thereof, the said bolt having a key opening therein accessible through the opening in the casing to receive a key for rotating said plate.

7. A latch lock comprising a casing and a locl ing unit contained within said casing; the said locking unit comprising a U-shaped spring member having a stationary leg land a movable leg forming a bolt, the said bolt being accessible through an opening in the front of the casing, a locking plate disposed between the said stationary leg and bolt and having an eyelet portion extending through an opening in the stationary leg for rotatably mounting said plate thereon, locking fingers on said plate engageable, when in a selected position, with the bolt for preventing unlocking movement thereof, a retaining spring secured by said eyelet portion against the side of the stationary leg opposite the locking plate and having extensions engageable with the plate to resist rotation thereof, and a projection on said locking plate, the said bolt having a key opening therethrough in alignment with the opening in the said eyelet portion to permit the insertion of a key into said openings for engaging said projection to thereby rotate said locking plate.

8. A container latch lock comprising an openback casing having a front wall, side walls, and end walls, the said front Wall having an opening therein with adjacent flanges projecting inwardly into said casing and one of said end walls having an opening therein, and a self-contained locking unit positioned within the said casing and adapted to be supported thereby against the wall of the container; the said unit including a U-shaped spring member having a stationary leg and a movable leg forming a bolt, an extension on said bolt, a locking nger on said extension, a key-operated locking plate pivotally secured to the stationary leg and located between it and the movable leg, a retaining spring member also secured to said stationary leg and engaging said locking plate to resist rotation thereof, said movable leg having a portion accessible through the opening in said front wall; the said portion hav ing a key opening therein, a locking finger on said locking plate engageable, when in a selected position, with the movable leg to prevent unlocking movement thereof; the said unit being positioned by the end walls and the said flanges, with the loop between said legs and the end of the stationary leg abutting the end walls of the casing, the said stationary leg being adapted to rest against the surface of the container Wall and the said movable leg being disposed between the said anges With the projection thereon extending through the opening in the end wall, and means on said casing for securing it to the container wall.

CARL A. VAHLSTROM. PHILIP J. WALTHER.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,805 Wheary May 21, 1935 2,203,202 Kun June 4, 1940 2,311,298 Marsh Feb. 16, 1943 

